Shoe stretcher



Jul 1 1924. 1,499,815

J. G. FLORESTA ET AL SHOE STRETCHER Filed July 12. 1923 Patented July 1, 1924.

Jo nts. FLORESTA AND iossr'n 'ZANGHI, OFVTYEONE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE STRETGHEB.

Application filed July 12, 1923. Serial No. 651,055.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it kn own that we, JOHN G. FLORESTA and JOSEPH ZANGHI, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Tyrone, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention consists of a shoe stretcher the primary object of which is to provide an implement which will exert pressure on the shoe upper, the latter, to uniformly stretch the same and avoid concentration of the applied stress on a limited area of the shoe which tends to weaken as well as distort the shoe.

A co-ordinate object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which functions to stretch the shoe upper laterally on the sole as well as outwardly on the latter although adjustment of the device is possible to permit lateral stretching independently of the so-called outward stretching.

Other objects of the invention will .be better understood from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a shoe stretcher constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an inside elevational view of one of the elements of the stretcher showing an other of the elements superimposed thereon and also showing a portion of the stretching means associated with the elements;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the element expanding foot showing a portion of the screw-threaded shank associated therewith.

The device of the present invention consists of a shoe form generally designated 5 consisting of a pair of twin shoe upper expanding elements 6 upon an expanding element 7 is superimposed. The elements 6 may be made of wood or other suitable material and are shaped to fit conveniently on the interior of the front of the shoe. Each element 6 is provided with a curved recess 8 so that when the elements 6 are contiguous the recesses form a substantially V-shaped socket.

The element 7 consists of a tongue prefera ly made .of metal and Shaped t9 coup e from the interior of.

ment the'shoe upper at the point where said element engages said upper. The rear end of the element 7 has portions extending therefrom which are convoluted to provide loops 9. The loops are pivotally mounted on pins 10. The pins lOIare detachably mounted in theelements 6 adjacent the rear end of the latter and are relatively movable in harmony with the movement of said: elements 6. Consequently, the tongue 7 may be disengaged from said pins when desired by expanding the elements 6 to a, predetermined .point.

hen the elements 6 are expanded a lateral pressure will be exerted on the interior of the shoe upper so as to cause lateral stretching on the latter and when the element 7 is moved outwardly from the sole against the shoe upper an outward stress is exerted on the upper. It is desirable to simultaneously expand the elements 6 and the element 7 and with this end in view suitable means is provided consisting of an expanding foot 11 and threaded shank 12 which latter is movable through a block 13 fixedly mounted between the rear ends of the elements 6. The foot 11 is adapted for engagement in the socket formed when the elements 6 are contiguous and is of a shape which complements said socket. The rear end of the foot is relatively wider than the widest part of the socket when the elements 6 are engaged so that by urging the foot 11 through said socket the elements 6 are-ex panded. The shank 12 extends through the rear end of the foot 11 into a recess 13. The inner end of the shank carries a head 14 which lies in the recess 13 and prevents the shank 12 from being displaced from the foot 11, but the shank is free to rotate in the foot. The block-13 is equipped with laterally extending pintles 15 which are mounted in corresponding recesses formed in the elements 6, the pintles being held from rotary movement by screws 16. In this way, the block 13 is held in a fixed position and the shank 12 permitted to be fed through the latter.

The upper face of the foot 11 carries a lift 17 which in the present instance is shown to be formed integral with the foot and consists of a rib extending from the apex of the foot rearwardly to the opening 13 on a line coincident with the longitudinal axis of the foot. The outer face of the lift 17 has a groove 18 formed therein which is semi-circular in eese tastiest! eenfig tion, 1311*;

lift is adapted to impinge a runner 19 which latter is formed on the inner face of the element 7 and extends along the longitudinal axis of the latter. The lower face of the runner is of tapering configuration so that inward movement of the foot 11 urges the element 7 upwardly in an apparent manner. The shank 12 may be provided with a handle 20 as shoWn in the drawings to facilitate rol0 tation of the latter. Rotation of the shank causes the foot to be urged inwardly for eX- panding the elements 6 laterally and the element 7 outwardly on said elements 6. HOW- ever, When desired the elements 6 may be 15 expanded independently of the element 7 by moving the latter rearwardly into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, or if desired the element 7 may be completely removed in a manner heretofore described.

It is apparent that this device may be used in the capacities of a shoe tree as Well as a shoe stretcher and may also be used in other capacities. Moreover, various changes may be made in the device especially in the details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts Within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A shoe stretcher including a shoe form engageable with the interior of the shoe and expansible to stretch the shoe upper laterally on and outwardly from the shoe sole, a portion of the form being reversible into an inoperative position'on the form to permit lateral stretching only of the shoe upper.

2. A shoe stretcher including an expansible form to stretch the shoe upper, and a tongue mounted on said form to expand as a unit With the latter, said tongue being hinged on the form to permit movement of the same into a substantially horizontal in operative position on the form. V

JOHN G. FLORESTA. JOSEPH ZANGHI. 

